Cookeville High School

Have you talked to your counselor about IB?

The IBDP coursework begins in junior year. To get started: pick one class from choices 1-5 and a choice 6 class.

SL stands for Standard Level, which means the course is one year long. SL courses can be taken during Junior or Senior Year.
HL Stands for Higher Level. An HL course lasts 2 years.

Candidates must take 3 SL classes and 3 HL classes.

• Choice 1: English Literature HL.
• Choice 2: Spanish SL, or French SL.
• Choice 3: History of the Americas HL.
• Choice 4: Chemistry SL/HL, Biology SL/HL, or Sports and Exercise Health Science SL.
• Choice 5: Math Interpretations and Applications SL.
• Choice 6: Music SL, or Visual Art SL/HL.

In addition to the courses from the above 6 group choices, students must complete three other requirements to receive the full diploma.

TOK: Theory of Knowledge (course),
EE: Extended Essay (mini-thesis over a chosen topic, supervised), and
CAS: Creative, Action, Service (150 hours of service learning over two years, supervised).

Want to get started? Begin planning for the IBDP during freshman registration. Take PRE-AP/IB courses and levels 1-4 in a foreign language before Junior year. Choose clubs and other organizations with purpose.

The IDBP is a globally standardized curriculum.

Cost of the IB Programme:

• Additionally, students must pay for each IB test they take by Fall Break of that testing year.
• The IBDP offers FRL (Free-and-Reduced Lunch) Waivers and a payment plan. 
• IBDP fees are competitive with AP and DE.

IB Fees

• Each IB test is $119.00 for the 22/23 school year
• Each testing IB student must pay a one time $30.00 mailing fee for the 22/23 school year
• Remote learners may mail in a payment to CHS/attn: Mrs. Hall or hand deliver to the main office at CHS/attn: Mrs. Hall
• Face to face students may deliver monies to Mrs. Hall in the 3rd floor office.
• Checks made payable to CHS or exact money is requested, one check can be written for several tests
• FRL must be filled out for the current school year and approved by 9/15/22 in order to be applied to IB test fees

Individual IB invoices are available in Mrs. Hall’s office (3rd floor).

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme

The IB Programme provides students with a globally-relevant knowledge base as well as a strong toolkit for identifying, analyzing, and communicating problems, ideas, and solutions.

• The IB Programme seeks to develop students as creative and analytical thinkers and communicators; coursework relies on class discussions and frequent written responses or research projects.
• Schools must undergo extensive evaluation by the International Baccalaureate Organization regarding mission and philosophy before they can offer the IB program.
• The Full IB Diploma Programme for juniors and seniors requires that all students take college-level coursework in 6 core academic areas: English language and literature, foreign language, social science, experimental science, mathematics, and either the arts or a second subject in one of the first five core areas.
• Students can pursue individual IB courses through the Certificate program, which does not include any of the additional requirements mentioned below. Certificate candidates must take the IB Exam for that subject and pass the exam to earn the Certificate.
• To complete the Full Diploma, students are required to write a 4,000 word “extended essay.” Expanding on an academic area of interest under the guidance of an advisor, the project prepares students for the independent research, writing, and creative synthesis they will encounter in college.
• Students also engage in extracurricular activities that demand creativity, action, and service in personally enriching ways for an average of three hours per week.
• Full Diploma Candidates must take exams in all six subject areas. Exams generally emphasize essays, response questions, case studies, and field-work or oral presentations as appropriate.
• Colleges that award credit or placement for strong AP exam scores generally have similar policies for IB exams.

Which is better?

There’s no standard answer to this question. As you consider high school planning options, make sure you understand the academic program, as well as the extracurricular opportunities you can access. Since colleges do not have a preference between programs, and it’s likely that the collegiate credit and advanced placement you earn will be similar regardless of the program you pursue, this is a decision to make based on your learning preferences and your educational philosophy.

Additional Notes

• Students who are eligible for Free/Reduced Lunch are also eligible for exam fee assistance for both programs. If you choose the IB path, the IB Coordinator will help with this process.
• And this is very important! You do not have to be enrolled in an AP class to take an AP Exam. Anyone can register to take an AP Exam, but we require students taking an AP class at CHS to take the corresponding AP Exam. Students who are taking IB classes may register for the AP Exam in any subject and do not necessarily have to take the corresponding AP class. However, the same does not hold true for IB Exams. If you are not enrolled in the IB Programme, you may not take the exams.

If you’re interested in the IB Programme, please contact Emily Chambers at echambers@pcsstn.com or at 931-520-2287.

Link to college credit/transfer info:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AaYy7F3x19zdqE4dniHNLuVH159LfzrYZeMW0EBmrOg/edit?usp=drive

IB University Credit Transfers

ADVANCED PLACEMENT or INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

Which program is right for you?

Colleges want to see you challenge yourself as much as possible in the context of your high school, and will not compare curriculum options across high schools. The majority of colleges do not have a preference between AP and IB classes, so you should instead focus on challenging yourself as much as possible with the classes available to you at CHS.

Which program is better?

There is no standard answer to this question. As you consider high school planning options, make sure you understand the academic program, as well as the extracurricular opportunities you can access. Since colleges do not have preference between programs, it's likely that the collegiate credit and advanced placement you earn will be similar regardless of the program you pursue. This is a decision to make based on your learning preferences and your educational philosophy.

The Advanced Placement (AP) Program

The AP program offers students a challenging, fast-paced learning environment. CHS offers AP classes beginning in the freshman year, and students can pick which individual subjects to take at the AP level.

• AP courses are designed to be hands-on experiential learning opportunities. Whether students are analyzing primary source documents in a history class or monitoring the respiration rate of plants in a biology lab, the delivery of content extends far beyond rote memorization.
• Students are expected to manage their time and workload independently, just as they would in college.
• Students with strong scores may be granted college credit or advanced placement by the colleges where they matriculate. Every college accepts these exams differently, offering credits and/or placement based on different cutoff scores.
• If you are in an AP class at CHS, you must take the AP exam for that subject.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Program

The IB Program provides students with a globally-relevant knowledge base as well as a strong tool kit for identifying, analyzing, and communicating problems, ideas, and solutions.

The IB program seeks to develop students as creative and analytical thinkers and communicators; coursework relies on class discussions and frequent written responses or research projects.

The IB program offers students the option to complete the full IB Diploma, completing six courses, or enroll in specific courses of their choosing.

• Along with the required six courses to complete the FULL DIPLOMA, students are required to take Theory of Knowledge, and complete the "Extended Essay" and "CAS" projects. The projects prepare students for the independent research, writing, and creative synthesis they will encounter in college while providing meaningful service to their school and community.
• Students in IB courses at CHS are required to complete the Internal Assessment (IA) and the seated exam for that subject.
• Colleges that award credit or placement for strong AP exam scores generally have similar policies for IB exams.

If you are interested in the IB program, please visit the link below and complete the online form. This form allows the IB Coordinator to stay in touch with students and parents who are considering IB courses.

Additional Notes:

Students who are eligible for Free/Reduced Lunch are also eligible for exam fee assistance for both programs. If you choose the IB path, the IB Coordinator will help with this process.